New New New

[minnesotasnow]

Alright guys so I've been looking like crazy. I know all about longboards but I want to get into luge. I can't find any place to buy a complete luge set up and need some pointers. If anyone in Minnesota knows can you fill me in please? I've been looking into luge for about 3 hours so any pointers would be awesome. I know a buddy who owns kindboards (a longboarding shop in Brainerd) If i gave them specs are they similar enough they could build one?

[FrankW]

There are actually quite a few luge manufacturers if you choose to buy one:

Roger's Brother's- http://www.rogers-bros.com They seem to be the most popular luge. They make two sizes to "fit all" (site seems to be down at the moment).

Skate Luge USA - http://www.skateluge.com/ Tim Novak makes a really nice, laminated wood street luge called the Nor'easter, it's one size fits all. He also makes a nice classic luge.

TRS - I don't know if he has a website up but Steve Fernando makes really nice aluminum street luges. You could contact him via PM on here.

Five Mile Longboards - http://www.fivemilelongboards.com/ They make a really, really nice classic luge. It's not on their website yet, but it's called the B-52; very nice design, fit and finish. This will be my classic luge ride for the 2012 racing season. Shoot Dan an email and say Frank sent you.

Subsonic Longboards - http://subsonicskateboards.com/?q=Strangelove-48 Their Strangelove 48 seems to be a popular classic luge around this area. It was raced to a 3rd place finish at the 2011 Maryhill Festival of Speed.

There are also many international street luge/classic luge manufacturers.

LongboardALM - http://www.longboardalm.at/longboardalm/ They manufacture/sell street luges and classic luges; most notably the Flying Dentist models which are raced by Michael Sarek.

I know there are a few people who make street luges in Australia, including Daz The Cowboy, although he's pretty wrapped up in his JetLuge project.

You could also make your own:

Lott Classic - http://buttboarding.com/Build_Your_Own/Build_Your_Own.htm This is a fairly easy to make classic luge that is still competitive. Chris McBride has raced his for over a decade. I rode one last year to 3rd in North America including a TQ and 2nd place overall finish at WinSport Canada. It's not fancy, but it's a good way to start. You can build a competitive platform for less than $125: plywood, Randal or Paris trucks and 70mm wheels.

There's also various online articles for building a dropped, metal street luge. Although most articles are a little old and the designs include foot pegs, but all you have to do is cut the front boom just short enough to mount the trucks and then put on wrap-around handles or a front fairing to keep your legs up.

Also, please remember to wear a helmet and skin protection: full faced helmet and leathers highly recommended. You can find inexpensive off the rack leathers for $200 online and adequate motorcycle helmets for under $50.

Most of all, have fun and go fast! If you have questions this is a great place to ask.

I'm sure there are more people making luges out there, but I don't know them all.

-Frank

[minnesotasnow]

Thanks for all the info man really helped out. I have a buddy who makes hemp longboards and I may ask him to make me a hemp luge. If i do I''ll post pics and write a review. Thanks again
-Josh

[DefectiveProduct]

Love from GB, Wisconsin here. I got hooked and I went big and started building one out of aluminum. Looking back I've got alot of my time and money wrapped up in it now.

I would advise you to start with something like this. Start simple and learn the basics.
If I could do it over, I would have built one one of these before I went to aluminum.


Good heavy plywood solidly bolted together. (It will be easier to lug up hills when a ride is unavailable) Wood is easy to shape and cut, easy to change and cheap enough to make a few.


Aluminum is expensive to make mistakes with. After that.. Find what you like.

[c.hicks]

Another option is to build a Gumball Machine.
Here's a link for the plans: http://www.gravitypublishing.com/Gumball_Machine/

Use high quality baltic birch plywood & stainless fasteners.
Darren Lott was very competitive on this design, easily smoking aluminum/metal luges.
-Christopher

[DefectiveProduct]

^ Wow ^ Thanks for the very well documented Layout/Dimensions/History of the Gumball. I was looking into this previously with no luck.

[Ulu]

Thank you Frank, for directing me here. From this mark forward, all things luge are possible!